Nearly 10 percent of all people living in the United States have diabetes, the American Diabetes Association, or ADA, reports. Diabetes is the seventh most common cause of death. Poorly managed diabetes can lead to a number of other chronic diseases, such as blindness, kidney disease, high blood pressure and stroke. To manage your diabetes properly, meet with your doctor and dietitian regularly and follow their advice. Additionally, consider adding blueberries to your diabetic diet, as they have potential benefits for diabetics.
Weight Loss
Losing weight is one of the most important aspects of a diabetes treatment plan. Even losing and keeping off just 5 percent of your total body weight is enough to notice a difference in your blood sugar numbers, the Obesity Action Coalition reports. Eating blueberries and other fiber-rich produce can boost the results that you get from a low-calorie diet.
Fiber
Blueberries are rich in dietary fiber. Adding dietary fiber to your diet can improve blood sugar management significantly. Diabetes Digest reports that eating about 45 g of fiber per day -- almost twice the amount the ADA recommends -- can lower your average blood sugar levels. Fiber slows the passage of carbohydrates into the bloodstream, preventing blood sugar "spikes." A 1/2-cup serving of fresh blueberries contains 4 g of dietary fiber. However, fibrous foods like blueberries should be gradually added to the diet, as suddenly eating large amounts of fiber can cause constipation.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are special compounds that fight off free radicals -- harmful molecules that kill and harm healthy tissue and cells. Blueberries are especially rich in an antioxidant class known as anthocyanins. ScienceDaily reports that the anthocyanins in blueberries can shed belly fat and boost insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetics.
Heart Health
Heart disease kills nearly 75 percent of all diabetics, the ADA reports. The antioxidants and dietary fiber found in blueberries can reduce heart disease risk by reducing cholesterol and protecting the heart's arteries from free-radical damage.
References
- American Diabetes Association: Diabetes Statistics
- Obesity Action Coalition: Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes
- Obesity Action Coalition: How To Use Fruits and Vegetables to Help Manage Your Weight
- Diabetes Digest: More Fiber Improves Diabetes Control For Type 2's
- Peer Trainer: Blueberries
- ScienceDaily: Blueberries May Help Reduce Belly Fat, Diabetes Risk
